U2 played the sold-out GLASGOW leg of their current VERTIGO world tour at HAMPDEN PARK last night (June 21), and singer BONO announced that he would be returning to Scotland for the G8 protest in EDINBURGH on July 6.

Prior to playing ‘One’, he delivered a rousing speech on the G8 protests, which Bob Geldof’s international Live 8 concerts are raising awareness of in the hope of convincing world leaders to cancel third world debt.

”This is the year and this is the moment,” said Bono. “Make Poverty History is only a slogan, but behind it is sense. This is the start of the twenty-first century, we can eliminate apartheid, slavery and poverty, and make sure that the journey to equality goes on. If you can’t make it to Hyde Park (for Live 8) there’ll be a party in the streets of Edinburgh, and I’ll be here for it.”

Bono also reiterated his praise for Chancellor Gordon Brown’s moves to cancel a portion of the debt in question: “I don’t normally give credit to politicians, but he did that and he deserves thanks.”

Elsewhere, the setlist was identical to that of U2’s previous gig in Twickenham on Sunday (June 19), with the one exception being a short chorus of Glaswegian contemporaries Simple Minds’ ‘Promised You A Miracle’ at the end of ‘Beautiful Day’.